ECB Announces Major Overhaul of Women's Cricket with Three-Tiered Competition

New ownership model and increased investment aim to make women's professional cricket self-sustaining by 2028.

The Wales Cricket Board (ECB) plans to introduce a three-tiered competition and a new ownership model to boost women's professional cricket.
The existing eight women's regional teams will become 'Tier 1 clubs', each under the ownership, governance, and operation of a specific First Class County (FCC) or the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
The ECB will invest an extra 4 million to 5 million pounds per year in women's professional cricket from 2025 to 2028, bringing its annual investment to 16 million pounds (US$20 million).
The counties will be expected to generate their own financial growth with a view to the women's game eventually being self-sustaining.
There will be no promotion or relegation from Tier 1 until at least 2029.